November 14 Thursday 2002
Gibbs set to return against injury-hit SL

CENTURION, South Africa: Opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs was set to return to the South African team for the second and final Test against an injury-hit Sri Lanka starting at Centurion Park here on Friday.

Gibbs, who was a late withdrawal from the first Test in Johannesburg after suffering a back spasm shortly before the start of play, took a full part in the South African team net practice Wednesday.

He did not have a scheduled fitness test but physiotherapist Shane Jabaar said he would be assessed Thursday to see whether Wednesday's exertions have had any effect. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, were reeling from the loss of captain Sanath Jayasuriya with a right ankle ligament injury.

It was confirmed Wednesday that Jayasuriya would be out of the Test and has been told he should rest for two weeks, which means he could be struggling to be declared fit for the first of five one-day internationals, starting on November 27.

Star off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, meanwhile, will play in the Test but will miss the one-day games in order to return home for treatment, which could include surgery, for a groin problem. Stand-in captain Marvan Atapattu faces a huge challenge if he is to turn around the fortunes of a side that was beaten by an innings and 64 runs inside three days in the first Test.

No Sri Lankan batsman could make a half-century against a disciplined South African pace attack, with Atapattu's 43 in the second innings the highest score for the tourists. Sri Lanka's bowlers were largely ineffective, too.

Muralitharan, who has taken 433 wickets in 77 Tests, did not pose his usual threat on a hard, bouncy Wanderers pitch in the first Test and his figures of three for 83 were flattered by the dismissal of two tailenders.

Jehan Mubarak, 21, who made his Test debut against Bangladesh earlier this year, is likely to replace fellow left-hander Jayasuriya. Mubarak could open the batting following the double failure of Russel Arnold at the Wanderers, with Arnold dropping down to bolster the middle order.

Opting for an all-pace attack at the Wanderers, all the bowlers did well but one will have to drop out if left-arm spinner Claude Henderson returns to give more balance to the bowling. If Gibbs is fit, he will probably open with Graeme Smith, with Gary Kirsten returning to the number three position which he filled against Bangladesh last month.

South Africa go into the match after three successive innings wins, with the rout of Sri Lanka in the first Test following two crushing victories over Bangladesh. 

South Africa: Shaun Pollock (captain), Graeme Smith, Herschelle Gibbs, Gary Kirsten, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, Neil McKenzie, Martin van Jaarsveld, Mark Boucher, Andrew Hall, Steve Elworthy, Claude Henderson, Makhaya Ntini.

Sri Lanka: Marvan Atapattu (captain), Russel Arnold, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Hashan Tillakaratne, Jehan Mubarak, Hasantha Fernando, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ruchira Perera, Sujeewa de Silva, Chamila Gamage, Thilina Thushara, Tharanga Lakshitha, Prasanna Jayawardene.

Umpires: Daryl Harper (Australia) and Russell Tiffin (Zimbabwe). 
TV umpire: Shahid Wadvalla (South Africa). 
Match referee: Gundappa Viswanath (India).